Electric headlight



B. A. F.Dwmme.I ELEGTRIG HEADLIGHT.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. A. EDWARDS. ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT.

No. 505,351. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

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ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT. N5. 505,551. Patented Sept. 19, 1595." I

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR A. EDWARDS, OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,351, dated September 19,1893.

Application flied August l5. 1893. Serial No. 483,205. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may 0071/007177.:

Be it known that I, EDGAR A. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati,in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Headlighting, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric head-light ing, and it has for its object to improve and simplifyihe construction, arrangement and operation thereof, and to these ends my in vention consists in the various features subtanliall y as hereinafter more particularly set In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention and sufficient to explain the principles thereof, Figure 1, is a side view of a portion of a locomotive, showing the arrangement thereon of my improved electric head-lighting apparatus. Fig. 2, is a partial longitudinal, vertical section, showing the head-light and the preferred manner of mounting the motor and electric generator. Fig. 3, is a rear view of the same, part of the reflector and frame being broken away to show the relative position of the electric lamp. Fig. 4, is an enlarged sectional view of the lamp. Fig. 5, is a rear view of the lamp. Fig. 6, is a horizontal section thereof. Fig. 7, is a longitudinal, vertical section of the motor. Fig. 8, is an enlarged perspective view, showing the grooved plates and rotating wheel of the motor; and Fig. 9, is a vdiagram of the circuits.

It is one of the principal objects of my present invention to provide a complete system and apparatus for electric head-light purposes, and without reciting the requirements of such an apparatus, which are well known to those skilled in the art, it is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide an exceedingly simple, cheap and effective lamp, which is capable of withstanding the shocks and jars incident to its location, and to operate steadily and effectively under those conditions, to provide a generator capable of furnishing a proper current of electricity to said lamp, to provide a motor which shall also be capable of withstanding the shocks and jars incident to its operation, and especially to be efficient in utilizing steam or other motor fluid, and to apply the power generated by the motor in a direct manner to the generator, and finally to so coustruct and arrange the lamp, generator, motor, and the necessary connections that the whole arrangement shall be compact, simple,

cheap, effective, and not liable to get out of simple in construction and occupy comparatively little space. In order to accomplish these results, I provide a suitable base A, preferably of metal, and formed or connected therewith is a vertically extending frame A', preferably made of cast material and having a configuration conforming substantially with the outer periphery of the reiiector. This frame is substantially circular in its forward edge, as at A2, and is provided with suitable means to support the usual glass or goggle B, which is preferably hinged to one side, and fits over a reduced edge or lip B of the frame, in the usual way.

I make a substantial improvement in the reflector G. Usually in this class of devices, it consists of a relatively very deep reflector, having a parabolic interior configuration in order to collect all the rays, or as many as possible, of the lamp, .which is usually placed in the focus, or substantially so, thereof, and to refiect and project them in substantially parallel lines in front. This construction is awkward and cumbersome, and moreover, there is always a loss of a large proportion of the light rays, somewhere in the neighborhood say, of thirty per cent. (30%), which do not fall upon the surface of the refiector, and are not, therefore, projected in a manner to he of use for the purposes intended. I make a relatively shallow reflector C, the interior of which is, as usual, made to conform to the parabolic curve, but the edges of which do not extend practically beyond a plane passing through the focal point of the reflector.

IOO

It will thus be seen that l not only greatly reduce the size of the reflector, making a much more convenient lamp, but also save a very material amount in the cost thereof, and by forming the supporting frame of substantially the configuration of the reflector, I am also enabled to save material in its construction, to make substantial support for the rcflector, and improve the appearance thereof.

The reflector and frame may be provided with a Ventilating opening A3 at the top, and it may also be provided with the side extensions A4, in order to receive the number or other indicator of the locomotive.

In orderto best utilize the simple construction of reflector above set forth, it is desirable to provide a lamp which shall direct its light rays substantially all in one general direction,so that they will be properly reflected and projectedin parallel lines, as above indicated, and in order to best accomplish these results, I have provided an improved electric lamp which not only operates successfully in this connection, but which is exceedingly simple in construction, constantin operation, and capable of withstanding the disturbances due to its position, without danger of getting ont of adjustment.

rlhe lamp D, consists essentially of a cylindrical case D, which may be of any proper material, having a large central opening d, and preferably a flange d and mounted within this case is an annular or ring-shaped piece E, which may be of granite or similar refractory material, arranged therein and having an opening e, the front edges of which are preferably beveled. Of course, it will be understood that the case may be of other shape than cylindrical, and the block may correspond therewith, but I prefer the form shown, for obvious reasons. Arranged in the rear of this piece is another body or piece F, also of refractory material, preferably of marble, or compressed magnesia, or similar refractory material capable of becoming highly incandescent from the heat of the electric arc, and this block or piece may be of any proper shape and may, as indicated, practically fill the rear portion of the case D', or it may extend only between the carbons G, G and other material or means may be provided for supporting it and holding it in place. This body l1, is arranged to occupy a position between the carbons, as above indicated, and may be grooved, as shown at g, g', to permit the carbons G, G to be inserted therein. The carbons consist of simple rods or bars suitably supported with relation to the incandescent material F, and they are provided with means for feeding them to compensate for their destruction in use, and While various means may be employed for this purpose, I have shown. simple springs H, I-I mounted on a standard I, which standard also has an arm or support I, on which the case D is mounted. These springs may serve as conductors for the carbons, being suitably insulated. A lamp of this construction will, as is well known, project practically all of its light rays to one side, and by arranging it in the focus ofthe shallow reflector before described, practically all of the light rays will be retlected and projected in horizontal or parallel lines in front of the reflector, and little or no light rays are lost. Moreover, I have found that alamp of this construction, in which the refractory body becomes incandescent, the rays have a peculiar color, due to the incandescent material, which is decidedly preferable in electric head-lighting over the ordinary violet rays of the ordinary arc light, as the material gives a sort of orange tinge to the rays, whichis much moreuse ful in penetrating fogs, smoke and the like. From this it. will be seen that not only is the above described lamp exceedingly simple, and cheap in construction, but it is obvious that it will withstand the shocks and jars to which it. is subjected without derangement, and the light produced thereby is not only better in quality, but a much larger quantity is utilized for the purposes desired.

It is well known that lamps of this character require some means of lighting or connecting the carbons or electrodes to establish the are, and in order to accomplish this, I provide a re-lighter J, comprising a rod preferably of copper, but it may be of any other proper conducting materiahwhich is arranged to slide through an openingj in the case and proper grooves or slots in the refractory material, so that it can connect the ends of the carbons to complete the electric circuit therethrough, and be withdrawn from one, maintaining its contact with the other, and thereby establishing the are. This rod may be operated in any proper way, but I have shown a diderential solenoid K, preferably arranged within the lamp and connected in the circuit in the manner hereinafter set forth, and arranged through the medium of the core K connected to the rod J, to move for the purposes indicated. It will thus be seen that the head-lightso fardescribed,isexceedinglycompact, simple of construction, and possesses advantages which renderit efficient and practical for the purposes intended, and it now remains to describe the means forfurnishing the lamp with the proper current inthe most economical and advantageous manner.

In operating an electric head-light it is, of course, desirable that the means for furnishing the electric current to the lamp should be simple, compact and free from disturbances under the conditions in which it is to be used, and in view of the large number of locomotives alreadyin use, it is also desirable to have these parts so arranged that they can be readily applied to existing locomotives, as well as supplied to new ones, and I have shown in the accompanying drawings, the preferred arrangement, in which there is mounted adjacent to the head-light and preferably upon the base thereof,agenerator and motor for driving IOO the same. The generator L, is herein shown in a conventional Way, as in the present instance I have not made any special improvements therein,but can use in connection with my system various generators, either magneto electric or dynamo electric, the essential qualification being that the generator shall be compact and capable of running at an exceedingly high rate of speed without injury, so that the requisite current can be produced in connection with a motor of the type hereinafter described, in the most eicient and practical manner, and I do not deem it necessary to further describe the generator, except to say thatl it is driven by direct connection with the motor. In order to operate t-he generator thus generally described, to the best advantage,I connect therewith a steam motor operating by impact or reaction, or both impact and reaction, of streams of steam,and an exceedingly useful embodiment of this principle for this particular purpose is shown in my patent No. $5,536, dated November l, 1892. Such a motor is capable of running at an exceedingly high rate of speed,and maintaining such speed under all conditions, and it has been found exceedingly efficient, especially in motors of comparatively small dimensions, as in a system of electric headlighting, Where it is desirable, of course, to utilize the steam t0 the greatest efficiency, and to produce the greatest amount of electricity in proportion to the steam used, and this is accomplished by the use of an exceedingly small motor adapted to run at a very high speed, and connecting it directly to the armature 0f the generator. Thile the motor is specifically described in the patent referred to, it is proper to state that it comprises a suitable casing M, in which are mounted two plates N, N', the adjacent faces of which plates are provided with series of annular recesses or grooves, and supporting between the faces of the plates a propeller wheel O, suitably mounted on the shaft O', and provided on its outer faces with grooves or recesses which correspond with the grooves in the fixed plates. In the construction shown, the propeller wheel O is mounted on a carrier P, fixed to the shaft O', and a suitable steam inlet Q, is provided in the case, with steam passages R leading to the steam space R within the wheel O, so that the steam therefrom passes outward toward the periphery of the wheel, by means of the grooves in the adjacent faces of the plates and Wheel. It will be seen that the grooves in the Wheel and plates correspond in position and are at the same radial distance from their axes, and there are a series of complete ringsfand segmental ringsf, in each face, the segmental rings having angular grooves h, and from this arrangement of the rings and grooves it will be seen that the steam finds a passage from the steam-chest to the exhaust chamber at the periphery of the wheel, the steam passing first by a series of angular grooves to the rst circular groove in the wheel, impinging upon the curved sides of the ring, and being deiected into the rst circular groove of the adjacent plate, and then impinging upon the curved sides of this groove, and being deflected through the first series of angular grooves in the plates, which are formed at an angle opposite to the angle of the grooves in the Wheels, and from which it passes to the next circular groove in the plate, and so on being deflected and reflected, causing the wheel to rotate by the impact and reaction of the various streams of steam in their passage from the center outward. It is not deemed necessary to describe the details of such a motor, as they are well understood by those skilled in the art, and are fully set forth in the patent referred to, and this is taken asa type of motor rather than as an exclusive form, but it has been demonstrated that a motor of this type when connected directly to the armature shaft of the generator and rotated at an exceedingly high rate of speed, is by far the most effective means of producing the desired current, far exceeding any reciprocatory or so-called rotary engine with which I am acquainted. Moreover, there are numerous advantages inherentto the use of a motor of this class for this purpose, in that, owing to the exceedingly high speed of rotation, it is less subject to disturbance by the motion of the locomotive ou which it is carried, and especially by reason of the fact that an exceedingly small and compact motor will produce the necessary and desired efficiency of steam,and be capable of operatingsteadily and effectively under the disadvantageous conditions to which it is exposed. It needs no argument to convince those skilled in the art that by combining a small motor of this char- .acter with a generator and operating them both at an exceeding high rate of speed, say for instance, twenty-five thousand (25,000) revolutions a minute, not only is there great economy of steam, but also economy of space, regularity of operation, and the highest efficiency of the generator, (especially one of small dimensions,) is attained.

In order to operate the relighting device, different means may be employed, but preferably the device is operated yautomatically by electrical means, as indicated, and I have shown in Fig. 0, one arrangement which I have found satisfactory, in which the current from the generatorL, passes by the conductor l, (one), to the point 2, where it divides, the main current passing through the conductor 3, to the carbons G, G, and thence by the conductor 4, through the coarse coils 5, of the solenoid K, while a shunt of relatively high resistance extends from the point 2, by the conductor 6, to and including the tine wire coils 7, of the solenoid, the shunt uniting with the main line at 8, and thence by the conductor 9, returning to the generator. Vith thisar- IOO rangement it will bc seen that as soon as the generator (which is preferably shunt wound) starts, the circuit will he established through the high resistance coils only of the solenoid, and this will cause the relighter attached to the core of the solenoid, to move to close the circuit between the carbons. As soon as this occurs, the main line is closed, and the current, or at least the greater proportion thereof, will flow through the carbons, the relighter, and the coarse coils of the solenoid, and this will withdraw the relighter and establish the arc between the carbons and the relighter will be maintained in this position as long as the lamp operates regularly.

It is evident that other arrangements of circuits can be provided in accordance with the electrical conditions, to perform these functions in substantially the same way, but this arrangement is exceedingly simple and effective, and especially so with a shunt wound generator.

The steam for the motor may be supplied in any desirable manner from the locomotive steam boiler, and I have indicated a pipe S, connected to tbe case of the motor, and to some port-ion of the boiler, preferably the steam-dome (not shown herein), and there is an exhaust pipe S', connected to the smokebox of the locomotive, and while these are convenient connections, of course, any other desired connections may be made.

The combination of a head-light embodying the general features of construction set forth, with a small generator, and an exceedingly small motor, operating on the principles set forth and rotating at an exceedingly high rate of speed, has demonstrated practically its great utility, and practically solved the problem of electric headlighting, as it presents a combination of parts co-operating together not only to produce the highest efficiency, and other desirable qualities of operation, but to be capable of withstanding the extraordinary disturbances to which electric head-lights are necessarily exposed.

I am aware that it has been proposed to operate a generator for electric head-light purposes by means of a special engine connected thereto, such for instance, as a reciprocatory engine or a rotary engine, and I do not claim any such construction, but I limit my invention to the use of a motoroperating on the impact, or impact and reaction system, connected to the generator, and operating at an exceedingly high rate of speed, as I have found in practice that the ordinary rotary engine or reciprocating engine is impracticable for headlight purposes, and it is only when a motor of the character described and operated in the manner set forth, is arranged substantially as described, that a practical electric head-light apparatus can be provided.

What I claim isl. In an electric head light, the combination with the reflector, and supporting case therefor, the case conforming substantially to the contour of the reflector and the edge of which practically co-incides with a plane passing through the focus of the reflector, of an electriclamp arranged in the focus thereof, the said lamp comprising a case having carbons parallel to each other and to the axis of thc reflector, an incandescent material arranged between the carbons, substantially as described.

2. In an electric head light, the combination with a reflector of a lamp arranged in the focus thereof, the said lamp comprising a case having carbons arranged parallel to each other and to theaxis of the reflector and an incandescent material between the carbons and arranged to throw the light raysall substantially in one direction, substantially as described.

In an electric lamp, the combination with a case, of the parallel carbons, the iucandescent material between the carbons, a relighter for the carbons, and a differential solenoid connected to the lighter for automatically establishing the arc, substantially as described.

4. In an electric head-light, the combination with a reflector, of an electric lamp mounted in the focus thereof, the said lamp being supported on a standard and being provided with parallel carbons and having a block of incandescent material between the carbons, a rclighter for the carbons, and a differential solenoid, the core of which is connected to the lighter, substantially as described.

5. In an electric head-light, the combination with a base, of a casing formed integral therewith, and conforming substantially in contour to the reflector carried thereby, the base having an extension, and a generator and motor mounted on Said extension, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a locomotive, of motor having a wheel adapted to be driven by steam impact, steam connections between the motor and the locomotive, a generator connected to the motor, and electric lighting devices connected to the generator, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name t0 this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR A. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

F. L. FREEMAN, E. E. ELLIS.

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